Workers pick health benefits over more pay

U.S. workers would rather have a lower-paying job that includes health insurance than one that doesn't include benefits and pays more, a survey by Stony Brook University in New York showed.

About 71 percent said they would choose a lower-paying job that included health coverage, compared with 24 percent who said they would take higher pay with no coverage.

U.S. workers also said more paid vacation would improve their health and that they were concerned they may lose benefits in the coming year, the survey found. Many said they wouldn't be able to afford their own health insurance.

"People are really worried about job security and health benefits, more so than money, especially retirement benefits," said Leonie Huddy, director of Stony Brook's Center for Survey Research. "There's a sense people want greater safety and security, rather than going out there for the high-flying jobs and salaries."

A majority of people, or 73 percent, considered good health-care benefits very important, compared with 37 percent that said a higher salary is very important, the survey found. Good retirement benefits and job security were rated more desirable than a higher salary in terms of importance.

More than 40 percent of those surveyed said more paid vacation time would help to improve the health of Americans, and about half said more vacation time wouldn't hurt the economy.